WRITE YOURSELF INTO THE STORY

WHO WAS THIS COURSE CREATED FOR?

• Female and female-identifying writers of all genres, backgrounds, skill levels, and ages
• Emerging or established storytellers who are interested in digging deeper into the craft
• People who like to ride bikes! 

 

"Spending days unplugged in the backcountry with an entire crew of rad writers will fuel my writing goals for months to come. I learned critical lessons about craft and found new tactics to unlock and shape stories. I also met a generous and fun community of people passionate about the things that matter most to me: words, water, mountains, climate change."

[ Loren D. | from Heather Hansman's 2022 Freeflow course ]

How can telling first-person stories lead us to bigger care? 

How do our identities shape the way we see the world?

What’s our responsibility to the truth?

This field course is for women and female-identifying people who are interested in telling their own stories. We’ll dig into the craft and culture of writing personal essays, first-person reported nonfiction, and magazine features to explore how our personal experience can be a tool in crafting narrative. We’ll study aspects of memoir, journalism, and creative nonfiction to expose broader stories that come from our experiences in the world. We’ll explore ideas of the writer as the source of care, writer as the lens, and writer as the eyes on the ground. We’ll think about whose stories are missing from the canon, and which ones are still waiting to be told.

Heather will share some of the lessons she's learned when working on her forthcoming book Fierce Country: Women who Changed the Outdoors, about identity, gender bias in the outdoor world (or any world), and the importance of telling stories that are overlooked. And together we’ll share our own stories.

ABOUT HEATHER HANSMAN

"After my course I felt empowered to tackle new writing objectives and I found a community of fellow writers to bounce ideas off of and trade works for review and editing. I left feeling like I believed in myself and my writing abilities more than I have in years, I felt like I could finally call myself "a writer." And I finally felt welcome in the writing community."

[ Teal L. | from Heather Hansman's 2022 Freeflow course ]

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS FIELD COURSE

This is a writing workshop.

Each participant will workshop an emerging idea of their own, which we’ll hone into a concrete story.

We’ll learn about critical elements of first-person narrative including scene building, story structure, exposition, and more.

We’ll build a lasting community of people we can share our work with.

It's also a world-class bike trip. 

The White Rim is an intermediate bike route. There's no single track and you don't need to have technical skills to enjoy the ride. There are some long, fast, fun descents with some exposure, but without the technical challenges of other classic Moab rides.

You can expect to ride an average of 22 (ish) miles with about 1500 feet of climbing each day. Your physical preparation should focus on building a level of endurance that will allow you to enjoy the ride.

Full suspension or hard-tail mountain bikes are perfect; gravel bikes are not appropriate for this tour.

Please make sure your bike is in excellent working condition before you come to Moab, or rent a 2025 Specialized Stumpjumper 15 Alloy from Western Spirit Cycling. 

Our bike guides are mechanically proficient and carry tools, extra parts, tires, etc. in the case that field repairs are necessary. This tour is vehicle-supported, which means you'll only need to carry a pack with your water, snacks, and layers during the day; everything else (camping gear, clothes, food) is carried to camp in the truck! 

Our guides will cook for us, too, which means that we only have to worry about our writing, riding our bikes, and enjoying the desert in springtime.

AGENDA

Over the winter months | Ride a bike (any bike), read (leisurely), write (periodically), dream (as much as possible).

March 29, 2025 | Option to join the Freeflow crew in Moab for a happy hour, packing party, and cozy Night Zero camp.

March 30, 2025 | Meet us early in the morning for coffee + breakfast, after which we'll roll to Western Spirit Cycling. From there we'll pack up and head to the trail for four consecutive days of biking, writing, and sleeping under desert stars.

April 2, 2025 | We should be off the trail and back to Moab by late afternoon / early evening. We'll say our farewells and head off toward whatever lies ahead.

COURSE DETAILS

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2024: $2550

After December 31, 2024, regular pricing applies: $2850

• daily discussions, workshop sessions, and generative exercises with Heather Hansman + Freeflow faculty
• pre-course logistical support + substantive reading / media list
• professional biking guides and safety / repair gear
• nutritious meals and snacks, plus wine and coffee, from breakfast on March 30 through lunch on April 2
• all permitting + fees
• the full, university-accredited curriculum - whether you pursue the credits or not
• post-course community

The course serves as an introduction to the Freeflow galaxy of writers, leaders, and thinkers. Our alumni receive discounts on future Freeflow courses.

Because we believe teachers and students need regenerative outdoor experiences more than most, Freeflow always extends a small discount to contracted educators and enrolled students. We also offer a small discount to our alumni. Because we believe in paying our instructors, facilitators, support staff, and guides an equitable wage, we do not offer individual discounts that compromise the integrity of those wages. If you need financial support, please consider applying for our scholarships. We also encourage you to seek financial support from your organization or employer, asFreeflow courses may be taken for professional development or continuing education. 

If you’d like to take the course for University of Montana credit, please let us know. There's a one-time credit processing fee of $155 (payable to the University of Montana). You'll have roughly one month after the field experience ends to finish your coursework and submit it for credit. No letter grades are assessed for this course; the offering is credit / no credit.

Guide gratuities are not included in the program cost. We strongly suggest giving your bike guides some love, and we are happy to discuss norms for tipping - just ask.

Participants should either bring their own bike or rent one from our outfitting partner, Western Spirit.The rental bike for this trip is a 2025 Specialized Stumpjumper 15 Alloy. Once you've been welcomed to the field course, please contact Western Spirit to reserve your bike rental. (Western Spirit offers a discounted total rental rate of $195 for the four field days.)

Participants must bring their own camping gear (tent + sleeping bag + sleeping pad). Please tell us if you need any camping gear and we will help you track it down.

Space on this adventure is limited to 11 participants. We will close registration once the roster is full. Please apply early.

All deposits and payments are non-refundable. Payment plans are available. Payments can be made by mailing in a good old-fashioned check, or by credit card or bank transfer via our online payment system.

CLAIM YOUR SPACE

Energize your creative work, reimagine your creative trajectory, enjoy movement, and build community this spring. Send us your questions and we’ll get in touch right away. If you know you’re ready to apply, click the APPLY NOW button. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Read more about the registration process and payment options here.

White Rim photos on this page are courtesy Western Spirit Cycling Adventures.